The U.S. Conference of Mayors
76th Annual Meeting
June 20-24, 2008
Miami

2008 ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS

PROVIDING UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, QUALITY HEALTH CARE

WHEREAS, the number of people without health insurance coverage increased by 2.2 million to 46.9 million - 15.8 percent of the population - between 2005 and 2006; and

WHEREAS, the percentage of people covered by employment-based health insurance declined slightly - from 60.2 percent to 59.7 percent - between 2005 and 2006, and the percentage of people covered by government health insurance also declined slightly -from 27.3 percent to 27 percent - during the same period; and

WHEREAS, the number of uninsured children increased by 611,000 to 8.7 million from 2005 to 2006; and

WHEREAS, this year nearly one out of four non-elderly Americans—

61.6 million—is in a family that will spend more than 10 percent of its pre-tax income on health care costs, and 17.8 million Americans are in families that will spend more than 25 percent of their pre-tax income on health care costs; and

WHEREAS, the number of uninsured people and people with inadequate coverage grow, cities are on the front lines of the crisis coping with its economic impact on city services, including increased demand for mental health and substance abuse services and increased demand for other safety net services for families; and

WHEREAS, if one breadwinner in a middle class family has significant medical bills due to lack of health insurance, that family is at high risk of slipping into poverty, thus making many middle class families one accident or illness away from catastrophe; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the US Conference of Mayors calls on the next President and Congress to repair the nation's health care system to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans.